Council Meeting Minutes January 9, 2020

A regular meeting of the City Council of Vinton, Iowa, was
held on the 9th day of January, 2020, at 7:00 p.m., in the City Hall Council
Chambers, Vinton, Iowa.
Mayor Maynard presided and the roll being called the following Council
Members were present and absent:
Present: Hessenius, Hesson, Parr, Stark. Absent:
Edwards.

The Pledge of
Allegiance was recited.

Motion by Stark,
second by Hesson to approve the agenda.
Question: Ayes – All. The Mayor declared the motion carried.

Motion by Parr,
second by Hessenius to approve the consent agenda. Question:
Ayes – All. The Mayor declared
the motion carried. Items on the consent
agenda are to receive and file the Council meeting minutes of December 26th and
December 30th, approve invoices in the amount of $449,775.23, receive and file
the December revenue and expenditure report and to receive and file the Parks
and Recreation Board meeting minutes of December 12th.

Hesson reported
that the Public Works Committee had met to discuss the installation of water
meter pits and water lines. There will
be another committee meeting to further discuss this topic. Also, the General Government Committee will
review the ordinance on water lines.

Luann Karr, 305 1st
Avenue, spoke to Council. She stated she
had received two write-in votes for the 2nd ward council seat, which she has
declined. She would like the City to
have open communications and be transparent.
Amy Edison, 1015 Golf View Drive, stated she is still interested in being
on the VMEU Board of Trustees.

The Mayor announced
that now was the time and place set to hold a public hearing regarding a nuisance
on the property at 7th Avenue and E 2nd Street.
James Gill, 1009 A Avenue, is the owner of this property. Attorney Fischer said that a previous notice of
a nuisance had be abated. There is a
bamboo pole structure, two non-functioning lawn mowers and wood planks. In early December a new notice to abate was
sent to clean up the property. Gill has
requested this hearing for tonight.
Motion by Parr, second by Stark to have Mayor Maynard meet Gill at the
property Saturday morning to review a list of items to be removed. Council will allow Gill 30 days from Jan.
13, 2020 to remove the items. Question: Ayes – All.
The Mayor declared the motion carried.
Gill said he would like to put up a building for storage. Fischer said a primary structure has to be
built prior to an accessory building.

Motion by Hesson,
second by Stark to adopt an ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE VACATION OF AN ALLEY IN
VINTON, IOWA. Question: Ayes – Hessenius, Hesson, Parr, Stark. Nays – None.
The Mayor declared the motion carried and that said ordinance had been
given its third consideration.

Motion by Hesson,
second by Stark to approve the recent splash pad bid from Boomerang, in the amount
of $222,000. Question: Ayes – Hessenius, Hesson, Parr, Stark. Nays – None.
The Mayor declared the motion carried.
Parks and Rec Director Boggess explained they had sought bids other times,
with the bids coming in too high. He says
this is a good bid. Boggess will prepare
a resolution for approving this bid for the next council meeting.

Motion by Stark, second
by Hessenius to approve contracts with Fehr-Graham Engineering for street
projects. They are for Sixth Street from
Second Avenue to C Avenue, East Tenth Street and East Eleventh Street from First
Avenue to Second Avenue and West Ninth Street from First Avenue to C Avenue. Question:
Ayes – Hessenius, Hesson, Parr, Stark.
Nays – None. The Mayor declared
the motion carried. Administrator Ward has
talked with the financial advisor. They will
be working on general obligation bonds in the amount of three million dollars for
these street projects.

Attorney Fischer
said it was unusual that no one ran for the 2nd ward council seat. There were two write in votes for Luann Karr,
which she has declined. There were two write
in votes for Le Cox, but it was determined that she does not live in the 2nd
ward. The appointment of Andrew Elwick
was premature since the vacancy did not occur until January. Council could now decide to appoint someone
to the vacancy or hold a special election.
An estimated cost for a special election is $3,000. Council will hold a special council meeting
on January 16th at 5:00 pm to consider how to fill the 2nd ward council vacancy.

An appointment
should be made to the VMEU Trustee board.
Mayor Maynard wants to have boards and commissions be gender
balanced. He wants council to establish a
policy on the process for making appointments to boards. A general government committee will meet on
January 15th at 7:00 pm to discuss this topic.

Resolution 01-84-4, rules of procedure for the
conduct of City Council business will be discussed at the general government
committee meeting on January 15th.

Council reviewed
some information on a possible new IAMU HISS safety management service. Eleven towns are in our service area. Vinton’s expense would be split between the electric
utility and the city. VMEU General
Manager Richtsmeier will be asked to attend a council meeting to explain this proposed
program.

Administrator
Ward said that the State has awarded the City two million dollars. This is for demolition and rehabilitation
costs at the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School. One million is from the Vacant State Building
Demolition grant program. And from the
Vacant State Building Rehabilitation loan program, $500,000 is a forgivable loan
and $500,000 a zero percent interest loan.
Pat Baird, Dennis Lausar, Melissa Schwan, Administrator Ward and the lobbyist
have worked very hard to receive these awards.

Administrator Ward
said he had spoke with KWWL about the awards from the State. He will be out of the office on January 20th. US Cellular will be asking to amend their
water tower lease. The planning and zoning
commission has met to discuss the Mary Ingall subdivision preliminary
plat. This plat will be on the next regular
council agenda.

Officer Parmater
stated the police department is getting closer to hiring a new officer.

Good &
Welfare: It is National Law Enforcement
Day Appreciation. The boys bowling team
is doing well.

Motion by
Hessenius, second by Stark to adjourn the meeting. Question: Ayes – All. The motion carried. Time:
8:29 p.m.

City Hall has re-opened the doors at 110 W 3rd Street. We ask customers to please practice social distancing. Utility payments still maybe placed in either of the two drop boxes, mailed via the postal Read more…